Buffer Stop Lighting

[curtis]

Folks,

I'm wondering how you folks are lighting your buffer stops? I've acquired a bunch of red bulbs that I'd like to use (I know it's not prototypical but I like the aesthetic). I'm wondering if you've got any tips on doing this.

Options I can see:

• The LGB 50520 (buffer stop lantern) given there are 10 buffers on the layout and that's going to add up (eat £100) which seems a lot.
• Mount the bulb to a sprue left over from a Pola G kit so it's a sort of slightly raise pole.
• Something 3D printed (I don't have a 3D printer)
• Something else...

I had a search around the forum but couldn't really find anything (although found some interested threads from Dunny on buffers generally )

 

[The Shed]

I've acquired a bunch of red bulbs that I'd like to use (I know it's not prototypical but I like the aesthetic).
Something 3D printed (I don't have a 3D printer)

 

[dunnyrail]

Folks,

I'm wondering how you folks are lighting your buffer stops? I've acquired a bunch of red bulbs that I'd like to use (I know it's not prototypical but I like the aesthetic). I'm wondering if you've got any tips on doing this.

Options I can see:

• The LGB 50520 (buffer stop lantern) given there are 10 buffers on the layout and that's going to add up (eat £100) which seems a lot.
• Mount the bulb to a sprue left over from a Pola G kit so it's a sort of slightly raise pole.
• Something 3D printed (I don't have a 3D printer)
• Something else...

I had a search around the forum but couldn't really find anything (although found some interested threads from Dunny on buffers generally )

Just had a look at German Buffer Stops and not much of relevance, looks like your spruce option may be the way to go. Short length drilled through for the wire with led plonked in. Cheep enough to do and it is your railway, if you are happy that is the way to go. Plus you will have made it yourself.

 

[David1226]

The Claptowte Railway does not have working lights on its buffer stops, but they are all equipped with dummy reflective lamps. You can click on the attached link to see how I altered them.
The Claptowte Railway - One For You Old Buffers




David

 

[Cobalt6700]

curtis I am about to 3D print some buffer stop lights - did you have a design in mind?

I would be happy to print some extra for postage money

 

[curtis]

curtis I am about to 3D print some buffer stop lights - did you have a design in mind?

I would be happy to print some extra for postage money

I'm not that creative in this regard. I had a quick scout on Thingyverse but couldn't find anything - something like the LGB ones would would work. I really appreciate the offer and would be more than happy of offer post + money to cover the materials!

However, I've been somewhat inspired by the images from The Shed and David. Let me have a think and I'll see what monstrosity I can pull together myself. Stay tuned

 

[Gizzy]

I brought some cheap LED lights for the buffers on my Portable layout, Hardyard. These came from Glendale Junction, before the proprietors retired.

They are fitted to cut down Peco Buffers, I used these as they have a small footprint and I needed to save as much space as possible....

HARDYARD - A G Scale Indoor Layout

Recently I was asked by Beancounter, if I would like a G Scale Display layout that he had started building, for the East Anglian Group of the G Scale Society. He had put it up for sale on GSC, but there were no takers. As the 'Group Captain', I accepted his generous offer, and we met...

www.gscalecentral.net

 

[a98087]

What country are you modelling The buffer stops on?

In the uk they come in a variety of shapes, from old fashioned oil lamps to much more modern types.

to power the light could you not just feed straight from the DCC rails, obviously with a suitable resistor

Dan

 

[stevedenver]

A couple of thoughts.

i have had the lgb standard bulbs melt a buffer lantern housings, and semaphores….(all bought used)……soooo…its a consideration…these lamp housings/lanterns are available, but arent that cheap. i never run lamps at max voltage.

But brilliance is nice, and leds can provide this. Unfortunately leds are not omnidirectional and may need to be pointed in the direction of a lens in certain circumstances, when sanding the surface doesnt provide adequate light diffusion.

i too now use leds, red, on installed buffers because i too like the look.

and…..sheepishly…i admit that.i have used small alligator clips attached to the buffer light wires, under the buffer block to the track….(i run analog). Obviously this does not provide constant lighting when i stop my trains, but for remote sidings, its a half a$$ but very convenient option. If you simply ‘run’ its fine. If you run dcc, its perfect.

as for housings…i have used stick ball point pen caps, cut, a ubiquitous barrel style lamp housing. you can even add a top visor with careful cutting if youre good.

another option is large square ‘u’ channel styrene strips, cobble together a box and lid…

 

[viaEstrecha]

Not being able to 3D print or inclined to make anything fancy, my buffer stops have a simple cube made of black plasticard, with a red LED inside and a washer and bit of sprue for embellishment (lower right of photo).

 

[stevedenver]

Via
Great looking stone façade
nice street lamps too!

 

[curtis]

What country are you modelling The buffer stops on?

In the uk they come in a variety of shapes, from old fashioned oil lamps to much more modern types.

to power the light could you not just feed straight from the DCC rails, obviously with a suitable resistor

Dan

Vaguely German / Austrian with a bit of Swiss. But very loosely. Ours is a fictional railway.

I think you're right though. From what has been shared in this thread there is a lot of flexibility. As long as it sets the vibe of "crap, better stop the loco" I'm probably in the right zone for the aesthetic.

In terms of bulbs - I've got some small 6v incandescent as well as the small and normal sized LEDs so I've got flexibility. I can also install a buck converter and run a string of buffer lights off the same connection.

I may play around with the square tubing I have - seems to have worked well above!

 

[Dan]

I get the LGB red bulbs ( 5 volt ones) and these were on sale for 10 cents apiece (10 pack for $1.00 US). I soak them in alcohol and the red just peels off.